About loose handbills and signs

Dear Editor:
Last year, after seeing our city smothered in street spam and litter, the City Council voted unanimously to strengthen Ordinance 110-45 and increase the enforcement and fines associated with it. At that time, I had a letter outlining the ordinance hand delivered to all businesses in Hoboken. The response was overwhelmingly positive. No one wants to see this type of litter in front of their store, nor do they want to feel that they have to use the same method of advertising to compete with other businesses. We also organized a cleanup day where volunteers collected over 50 large garbage bags of flyers and notices from the streets. We found out the hard way during Hurricane Sandy that this litter also contributed to the flooding as it clogged sewers and blocked drains.
For those residents and businesses that are unaware of Ordinance 110-45, it states the following:
“No person shall throw, cast or distribute, or cause to be thrown, cast or distributed, any handbill, circular, card or other advertising matter whatsoever, in or upon any street or public place or in a front yard or upon any vehicle or in the vestibule or hall of any building or in any place from which such matter may be blown by the wind onto a street or public place, or place on any pole or public sign any advertising matter unauthorized by the owner of the said pole or public sign.”
There are many places where one can legally place signs. Along Washington Street there are public bulletin boards at the bus stops. There are also public bulletin boards at Shoprite, Panera, Starbucks and others. Upon asking, many shop owners throughout the city will post your signs and flyers on the inside of their windows. The Hoboken Reporter has an offer where you can have your flyers distributed in with their Saturday newspaper. You can also place ads with one of Hoboken’s blog and news sites. In this age of digital media, there is little reason to litter with paper to get your word across. There is nothing more aggravating than finding a postcard permanently stuck to your windshield after a rain storm.
The residents of Hoboken are looking for a clean city we can be proud of. Those looking to get the word out, including politicians running for office, should look to other alternatives. With everyone’s help and cooperation we can create a cleaner and more beautiful Hoboken.

Thank you,
Jen Giattino

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